Drapery fixture



June 28, 1960 w. R. STEPHENS DRAPERY FIXTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 9, 1958 June 28, 1960 w. R. STEPHENS DRAPERY FIXTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 9, 1958 rm M3 United States Patent DRAPERY WillinmR. StephensgBlSrEastState St., Rockford, Ill: FiledJ'une' 9, 1958, Ser. No. 740,776.

11' Claims. (Cl; 160 126);

This invention relates tov novel and useful improvements in drapery fixtures and particularly to improve.- ments' in drapery rod master slides;

Thedraperyrod master slides comprise a pair of drapery support'arms mounted on a drapery rod forrelative movement toward and away from each other. The sup: port arms' of each pair are' generally laterally offset to permitthe support arms of each pairto be moved'into overlapping relation. However, theupper portion of the drapery carried by one support arm frequently engages the drapery or some'partsuch asa drapery. hook attached to'the other support arm and prevents'proper closing, of the draperies. Moreover, even when the upper portions of the draperies carried bythe' support arms are moved into, overlapping relation, the contiguous edges of the draperies. frequently engage adjacent the lower portion thereofiand prevent complete closing of the draperies.

The lateral spacing, between the support arms of" the master. slides, heretofore required to enahle movement of the' same. into overlapping relation, adversely affects the appearance of thedraperies when the latter. are closed andalso when the latter are in an open position. Thus, when the upper. edge of the drapery i's.viewed from a level below' the upper edge thereof, the edge. of. the drapery carriedhythe.forward'support arm will appear to herhigher'than' the upper; edgeof the drapery on the rear arm. Since the amount of this apparent misalignment willvary dependent on the position from which the drapery' is viewed; it is apparent that this illusion cannot be. corrected by merely adjusting the vertical. position oi the draperies on the. respective support. arms,

It is an important object of this invention to provide a drapery fixture which overcomes. the. aforementioned'objections andfacilitates movement of the edge. of oned'rapery into overlapping relation with the edge. of an adjacent drapery.

A" more particular object of'thisinvention. is to. pro.- vide a drapery fixture in which. the. master slide has a drapery support arm thereon which is movable. later.- ally of the slide to atpositionspacedoutwardly from. the front side of the drapery rod', to facilitatemovementofithe draperies intooverlapping. relation,, and which. arm is thereafter. movable toward. the drapery. rod. to. tightly close. the draperies.

Another objectof-T this: invention. is. to provide adrapery. fixture in which the. master slide hasa. drapery sup.- port arm.mounted thereon for. horizontal. swinging movement and whicharm automatically. swings outwardly. from the frontface of the drapery'rod, asthe. slide. is extended to close the draperies, and which is thereafter automatically swung back toward. the. drapery rod to:- tightly close the draperies, after.- the slide reaches-- its.- extended F ice 2' draperywillbe'supported closely adjacentthe' track when the'draperyis'in its open position.

A further" object of this invention is to provide a master slide. in accordance with the foregoing objects which is of simple and economical construction, and which is reversible for either right hand or left.operation.

These, together with various. ancillary objects. and advantages of this invention will be more readily appreciated" as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1' is. a top plan. view of a two-way drapery fixture embodying the. improved master slide construction;

Fig. 2 is a' fragmentary rear elevational view of the drapery fixture and showing. the master slides;

Fig. 3' is a fragmentary. bottom. view of the drapery fixture and showing the master slides in a position immediately prior to closing of the same;

Fig. 4' is a fragmentary bottom view of the drapery fixture and showing the master slides in their closed position;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary rear. elevational view of a modifiedform of drapery fixture; and

Fig. 6 is a top view of the master slide assembly of Fig.5 with the drapery rodshownin phantom.

Reference is now made more specifically to the accompanyingdrawings wherein there is illustrated a drapery fixture including a track T'having a C-shaped' cross-secs tion and including a front. wall 10 and arched top and bottom walls 11 and 12 respectively. As best shown in Figures 2' and 5,,the opposite; side edges of the track are disposed insp aced. parallel relation and define a guideway the'rebetween for slidably receivingthe drapery slides. Track holders H are provided at each end of the track, to supportthe traverse cord sheaves, andare attached by mounting brackets B to the. supporting surface 9. The trackholders, and mounting brackets may be. of any conventionalconstruction and further detailed description-thereof is. deemed. unnecessary.

In. the two-way. traverse rod'illustrated in Figures 1.4, a pair of master slides. M and N are, providedfor supporting. the. draperies adjacent one edge thereof and for moving. the. same. in. relativelyopposite directions along the track. In addition, a plurality of auxiliary slides 14. are also mountedbetween the. opposed edges of the track. I for independent movement therealong. As is conventional, the auxiliary slides 14 include an. upper slide. blockportionlAa having a groove inthe periphery thereof. for receiving the. opposed. edges of the track, and a depending shank portion. 1412 having. an opening 15.. therein: for. receiving; a; conventional. drapery hook 16.

The. master slide. M. includes, a, slide. plate. 17 which overlies the. rear of the, track T and is. slidably, supported thereon: bygrooved. slide. blocks 18. which are received betweenthe opposed edges of the track. As is conventional, theslide. M is. extended and. retracted; along the track T by. means of a cord 21, which cord may be operatively connectedto the. slidein any, desired: manner. As shown-in: Figure 2, the. slide. plate 17 has an opening 22. provided therein.- and: arranged to permit an intermediate portion. of the. cord 21- to be draWnither-ethrough. A. tongue 23-is: struckiout from the slide plate intermediate. the ends. of. the opening 22 to-receive a bight portion ofthe cord 21 A second tongue 24 extends partially across. the aperture: 22. to prevent the bightportion of the: cord 2-1 from accidentally slipping back into the track 13,. when it; is: released. from the-tongue 23;.

A drapery support arm 25 is mounted on the slide M and; in accordance with: the present invention, is supported thereon for limited horizontal swinging movement. Provision is made for swinging the arm outwardly away from the track as the slide is extended to facilitate movement of the adjacent edges of the. draperies into overlapping relation and for thereafter swinging this arm toward the track .to thereby tightly close thedraperies. In addition, the arm is so arranged that when the slide is retracted, the arm is swung toward the track to support the edge of the drapery closely adjacent the track. Openings 26 are provided in the arm 25 to receive the conventional drapery hooks for supporting the leading edge of the drapery panel on the arm. In the embodiment illustrated in upper and lower ears 27' and 28 are provided on the slide plate 17 and extend rearwardly therefrom. .The ears are apertured at 27a and 2811 respectively (see Figs. 1, 3 'and 4) and pivotally receive the oppositely extending trunnions 29 ona support plate 31. As best shown in Figure 2, the support plate 31 is apertured as indicated at 32 to provide access to the draw cord opening 22 and hook 23 on the slide plate 17. 'As is apparent from Figs. 1 and 3, the support plate'is. arranged to engage the slide plate to limit swinging movement thereof between a position in-which the arm 25 extends generally longitudinally of the track, as shown in Fig. 1, to a position 1-4, spaced in which the arm 25 is inclined outwardly from the track, as shown in Fig. 3..

track T and, as isiapparent from Figures 1 and 3, is

supported on the slide plate 17 for swinging movement; about an axis laterally offset from. the rear side of the track and whichaxis extends perpendicular-to the lbngi:

tudinal axis of the track.v .The support arm' 25 isattached to the'plate 31 adjacent 'the lower edge thereof for'horizontalswinging movement below the track T. The supthe mounting portion 25a thereof are formed separate 7 from the plate 731 and secured theret by a screw fastener 34. In this manner, the support arm may bereversibly The support plate 31 extends to a position below the on guide blocks 42 for reciprocation along the track and has a cord opening 43, and a locking tongue 44 for receiving a bight portion of a diflerent run of the traverse cord 21. The slide plate 41' has an offset portion 41a extending to a position below the track T and an arm 46 is rigidly attached to the offset portion 41a by the fastener 47. As is best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the arm 46 extends from the slide N toward the slide M and has an angulated nose portion 46a disposed in the path of movement of the cam finger 36 to engage the latter when the arms 25 and 46 overlap to thereby swing the arm 25 toward the arm 46 and close the drapery. One or more openings 48 are provided in the arm 46 for receiving the conventional drapery hooks by means of which the drapery D2 is supported on the arm 46. The support for the drapery hook at the free end' of the arm 46 is ofiset from the nose portion 46a, to prevent that drapery hook from engaging the cam finger 36 as themaster slides move into overlapping relation. In the embodimentv of Figs. l-4, a loop 46b is struck out of the endof the arm 46 to provide a drapery hook support at. thefront side of the nose portion 46a.' As will be noted, the cam finger 36 is inclined to the path of movement of the nose portion 46a and is cammed thereby in a counterclockwise direction, .as viewed in Figs. 3 and 4, to swing the arm 25 toward the track T and close the overlapping edges of the drapery panels.

positioned on the plate 31 to enable .use of the master slide M for either right hand or left hand operation. Obviously, the supportarmjand the mounting portion As shown in Figure. 1, one edge portion .of adrapery D1 is afiixed to the support arm 25 to'be extended and retracted yvith 'the slide M, and intermediate portionsof the drapery are supported .by.,the hooks 16 on the V auxiliary slides 14. As the master slide M is retracted toward'the position "shown in Figure -1,'the.drapery D1 tends to'retardmovementpf the arm 25'withthe slide and; since'the pivot axis of the arm is laterally ofiset therefrom, thearm is urged in a clockwise direction as viewed in'Figure 1 toward the track T. On the other hand, when the master slide M extended, the drapery 'pulls on the arm 25 and tends to swing the latter in a counterclockwisedirection as viewed in'Figure l away from thetrack Tto a position such as shown in Figure 3.

- A modified form of master slide, designated50, is illustrated in Figs. 5 and'6fapplied to a one-way traverse rod; ,In some applications it is desired to rnaintain the edge ofone drapery panel stationary and move the edge of a different panel into and out of'overlappingrelation With thestationarypanel. iIn'such' applications, a fixed drapery support armlvdesignate'd 51, is providedfor sup,-

porting the stationary edge ofaone panel andffor actuatingfthe-movablejarm on'the master slide 50. t

As in thepreceding embodiment, the master slide 50 includes a slide plate 52 mounted by slide blocks 53 on the track 1. A cord opening154 is formed in the plate 52 and has an"upwardly extending, tongue 55 intermecliate the ends thereof for prevening accidental retraction of the bight portion of the cord 21 through the opening. The widthof the slide platev 52,.in the area of the cord opening '54, is appreciably less than in the embodiment of Figs. l-3, rccordingly,.thev tongue 55 is made relatively wide, sufficient to permit at least a portionof the downwardly extending'tongue 5 6 to be; struck therefi'om. A pair of vertically spaced ears 58 and 59are'provided on the slide plate 52, .at a level below thedower and secured thereto if desired. The upper car 58 is V struck outjof-the plate 52 and bentrearwardlytherefrom, and the lower ear 59 is formed byadepending projection on the plate which is bent rearwardly of the plate is spaced relation to the upper ear." The cars are ,apertured,

*In accordance with the present invention, -provisionis made for swinging the arm 25 back toward the track when-the slide M reaches its extended position to thereby tightlyjclose tlie drapery; For purpose,,there isv provided' a'icam finger 36-which is disposed-at the rear side of the fsupport arm 25 and laterallyofiset' therefrom; Conveniently,'-the"-eam finger -'is formed integrally w'ith the mounting portion 25d of the supp'ort armso as to.

bereversiblethe'rewith :i U I :;The*other slide also includesa' slide plate 41' mounted as shown at 61, and .pintles 62fare formed on a strap 63 to pivotally support the strap on the ears.

One end of the strap 63 is curved upon itself toprovide a draperyrsupport arm portion 63a which is laterally olfset. from the mounting portion 63b, and the pintles 62 and' 'As in. the precedingiembodiment; the edge ,br' one drapery panel is attached to. the arm 63 d'for movement therewith as by drapery hooks; receivable in opening 64. As the slide 5!) is extended. toclose the drapery, the drapery panel exertsa drag on thega'rm which causes the same to swing outwardly to thepositionshown in Fig. .6. The mounting portion" 63b .arrangedztojengag'e track and tightly close the draperies.

the edge 65 of the slide plate 52 to limit outward swinging movement. When the slide 50 is retracted, the drapery panel retards retraction of the arm and swings the same toward the track T. The mounting portion 63b is arranged to engage the edge 66 on the plate 52 to limit inward swinging movement of the drapery support arm.

The other drapery panel may be movably mounted on a master slide such as shown at N in Figs. 1-4 or on a stationary arm 51 as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. This arm is advantageously shaped in the form of an inverted T, the leg portion 68 of which is attached to the track and the arm portions 69 of which extend longitudinally of the track. The stationary arm is adjustably and removably secured to the track by a tapped plate 71 disposed inside the track and which receives the mounting screw 72. Flanges 71a on the plate extend outwardly of the track on opposite sides of the leg portion 68 to support the latter. Drapery hook openings 75 are formed in the arms 69, and the ends of the arms are curved rearwardly to define cam noses 76 for engaging the cam finger 630 on the slide 50. As is apparent, the T-shaped stationary arm is adapted for use with either right or left master slides.

The stationary arm 51 operates the swinging arm 63a on the master slide 50 in the same manner as the arm on the slide N operates the swinging arm 25 on the slide M. Thus, as the slide 50 is extended, the cam finger 63c thereon engages one of the cam noses 76 on the stationary arm, to thereby swing the arm 63 back toward the rod T. Since the cam nose 76 is spaced from the rear of the rod, the drapery hook at the end of the stationary arm 69 does not engage the cam finger 63c.

From the foregoing it is apparent that the swingable arms 25 and 63a, on the master slides M and 50 respectively, are automatically moved relative to the respective side plate, as an incident to reciprocation thereof along the track by the draw cord 21. As either of the aforementioned master slides are extended, the drapery causes the arm to swing outwardly away from the front of the track T to facilitate overlapping of the edges of the drapes carried by either a movable slidae such as N or a stationary arm such as 51. After the drapes are moved into overlapping relation, the respective cam finger is operative to swing the movable arm back toward the When closed, the overlapping portions of the draperies are in abutting contact so that the upper edges thereof do not appear to be misaligned. When the drapery is drawn open, the drapery causes the movable arm to swing toward the track so that the leading edge of the drapery is also disposed closely adjacent the track when the drapery is open.

I claim:

1. A drapery fixture comprising a track, a first drapery support arm mounted on the track, means on said first arm for supportingone drapery panel adjacent the edge thereof, a slide mounted on said track for reciprocation therealong toward and away from said first arm, a second elongated drapery support arm having means for supportting the edge of a different drapery panel, said second support arm being mounted on said slide for free horizontal swinging movement from a position extending generally longitudinally of the track to a position inclined outwardly therefrom, means for moving said slide along the track, and means responsive to movement of said second arm into overlapping relation to said first arm for swinging said second arm relative to said slide and against said first arm.

2. A drapery fixture for moving the edge of a first drapery panel into overlapping relation with the edge of a second drapery panel comprising, a track, a first drapery support arm mounted on the track, means on said first arm for supporting said second panel adjacent one edge thereof, a slide mounted on said track for movement therealong between a retracted position to an extended position adjacent said first arm, a drapery suparm for supporting one edge of said first panel adjacent the front side of said track, a second arm adapted to port member including a second arm for supporting said first drapery panel adjacent the front side of said track, means mounting said second arm on said slide for free horizontal swinging movement relative thereto about an axis ofiset rearwardly from the front side of said track to permit-movement of the leading edge of said second arm toward and away from said front side of said track, means for moving said slide along the track whereby the drag of the first panel tends to swing the leading edge of the arm away from the front side of the track as the slide is extended, stop means limiting outward swinging movement of said second arm relative to said slide, and means operative in response to movement of saidsecond arm into overlapping relation to said first arm for moving the second arm back toward said track to close the drapery panels. a

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said first drapery support arm is fixedly mounted on said track, said last-mentioned means including cam means on said first and second arms engageable when said arms are moved into overlapping relation.

4. The combination of claim 2 wherein said first drapery support arm is mounted on said track for movement therealong, said last-mentioned means including cam means on said first and second arms engageable when said arms are moved into overlapping relation.

5. A drapery fixture for moving the edge of a first drapery panel into overlapping relation with the edge of a second drapery panel comprising a track, first and second slides mounted at the rear of said'track for movement therealong toward and away from each other, a first drapery support arm attached to said first slide and extending longitudinally of said track, means on said first support said second panel and mounted on said second slide for free horizontal swinging movement about an axis laterally offset from the front of said track whereby the draper panel on the second arm draws the arm outwardly to a position inclined away from the front side of the track during extension of the second slide and pushes the arm back toward the track during retraction of the second slide, stop means limiting movement of said second arm relative to said second slide between a position disposed generally longitudinally of the track and a position inclined outwardly from the front side thereof at an acute angle, and cam means on said second arm engageable with said first arm for swinging the second arm back toward said track to close the drapery panels after said arms have moved into overlapping relation.

6. A drapery fixture for moving the edge of a first drapery panel into overlapping relation with the edge of a second drapery panel comprising a track, first and second slides mounted at the rear of said track for movement therealong toward and away from each other, a first drapery support arm attached to said first slide and extending longitudinally of said track, means on said first arm for supporting one edge of said first panel adjacent the front side of said track, means defining a pair of vertically spaced ears on said second slide extending rearwardly therefrom, a support mounted on said ears for free horizontal swinging movement about an axis disposed rearwardly of said slide, a second draper support arm on said support and laterally offset from the pivot axis thereof whereby the drapery panel on the second arm draws the same outwardly to a position inclined to the front side of the track as the second slide is extended and pushes the arm back toward the track as the second slide is retracted, stop means limiting movement of said second arm relative to said second slide between a position disposed generally longitudinally of the track and a position inclined outwardly from the front side of the track at an acute angle, and cam means on said support disposed rearwardly of said second arm and engageable.

Z V with said first: arm for swinging" the second arm toward the-track to-close the drapery-panels after saidl armshave 'movedinto overlappingrelation.- 4 7 V V 7 The combination of. claim 6 wherein one of said tr aek, said second arm beingmountedon said support forswinging movement a horizontal pathdisposed V belowsaid track.

9; Ardrapery'vfixture formoving the edge of a first drapery panel into overlapping relation with the edge of a seconddraper-y panel comprising air-ack ifirst and secondzslidesinio'unted at therear of said track for movemen't therealong. toward' eandlaway from eachaother, a

first drapery support arm attached: to said' first; slide andextending longitudinally of said tr'aolg} means on said firs-t arm for supporting one edge of said'firstpanel adjacent thefrent side; of said track,-means defining a:, pair oif=verticallyspaced ears on: said second slide extending rearward'ly' therefrom a movable drapery support mem ber comprisinglan elongated horizontally disposed mountingvportion, means attaching said-mounting portion to said ears for free horizontal swinging movement; about an axisdisposed: intermediatev the ends; of said mounting saidn'ioimting portionin lateral spaced relation to said mounting-portion'at the front side thereof and defining therewith agenerally U-shaped memben'stop means limita ing'movement of said second support: arm between a po sition extending generally longitudinally of said--traclr and a agpositiondnclined to'the nont face of said track, and

cam means on the other end of said mounting position disposed rearwardlyof; said second arm and engageable with saidfirst armfor swinging the second armv toward the track to =close-the drapery panelsafterthey have been moved into overlapping relation.

10: The combination of claim 9 whereinsaid cam means extends firom said other endof said-V'mountingportion toward saidifirst mentioned end.

' 1-1. A drapery fixture 'for moving the edge of one drapery panel into overlapping relation with the edge ofi aditferent drapery panel comprising a track, a-first mounted on said track andextendingslongitudinally thereof: below saidtrack, means on said firstarm. for supportingonedrapery panel adjacent one edge thereof; a slide;

- mounted onsaid track for movement there'along: towardan awayfrom said firsta-rn' a second anrrrmountedon said slide: below said track foi horizontal swinging movemerit relative thereto aboutaan: offset r-earwardly of" said -traek stop means limiting movement ofsaid: second arm-relative to said slide betweenaposition extending, generally longitudinally ofi said' track and position in-. clined outwardly from the front side thereof, earn means v 1 on said second-arm disposed forwardly oi said axis attlie portion, a second support armextending'from one end of side of said axis adjacent said first arm: for engagement with said first arm when said arms havemoved, into overlapping relation to swing said second arm against said-first arm and close said slidesr V References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Werneret al. Nov' 20; 195*}? 2,713,898 Hartmann e July 26,1955 2,722,980? Wills Nov.:8,. 1955 2,736,373 Truesdale' Feb. 28; 1 956 

